Drive unit and method for using the drive unit to control a machine tool

Abstract

A drive unit for a machine, in particular a machine-tool, robot and the like, is described. The drive unit has several components, and each component has at least one associated component-specific function, and a uniform communication module that forms an interface with the other components. The interfaces of the various components can be connected by logical point-to-point connections or via a bus. Each component is designated with a particular type, and the communication between the components uses a type-specific communication protocol. A least one of the components is a hierarchically superior component.

1. A drive unit for controlling a machine, with a plurality of components, each component comprising at least one component type and at least one component-specific function associated with the component, and a type-specific communication protocol associated with each component type, and a uniform communication module forming an interface,
 wherein at least one component of the plurality of components is hierarchically superior to the other components of the plurality of components, with the other components representing subordinate components, wherein the subordinate components communicate with the supervisory component via the respective type-specific communication protocol. 
 
   
   
     2. The drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the interfaces are connected by logical point-to-point connections. 
   
   
     3. The drive unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the interfaces are connected by a bus system. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type-specific communication protocol of each subordinate component is indicated to the superior component when the drive unit is switched on. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the machine is selected from the group consisting of machine tools and robots. 
   
   
     6. A method for controlling a machine, with a drive unit that includes a plurality of components, comprising the steps of:
 assigning a type to each of the components, 
 assigning at least one component-specific function to each component type, 
 associating a uniform communication module with each of the components, said communication module forming an interface, 
 associating a type-specific communication protocol with each component type, 
 designating at least one component of the plurality of components as being a hierarchically superior component, with the remaining components of the plurality of components being designated as subordinate components, and 
 enabling communication between the superior component and the subordinate components via the type-specific communication protocol. 
 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the type-specific communication protocol of each subordinate component is indicated to the superior component when the drive unit is switched on. 
   
   
     8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein each component type is described by physical parameters associated with the component type, and wherein the physical parameters are indicated to the superior component by using another protocol that is independent of the component type. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the machine is selected from the group consisting of machine tools and robots. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the Interfaces are connected by logical point-to-point connections. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the interfaces are connected by a bus system.